ニュース

This strategic professorial appointment will complement and
build on Bath’s multidisciplinary expertise in energy and environment-related
areas, which is already at the forefront of UK activity and is of international
standing.

Professor
Weller’s research concerns the synthesis of new cheap, stable and
environmentally-benign materials that can be used for energy harvesting and
storage. Examples include developing new compounds for use in rechargeable
batteries that would markedly extend the range of electronic vehicles and
lifetimes of mobile phones and laptop computers.

His
research will also involve developing compounds that capture sunlight,
converting it directly into electricity or using it to split water to produce
hydrogen which can then be used as clean fuel.

His
work involves manipulating the compositions and structures of inorganic solids
to produce the desired functionality in the product material.

Professor
Weller said: “I’m really looking forward to developing many new collaborations
with colleagues at the University of Bath.

“My
research will integrate superbly with existing expertise and strategic
investment at Bath, including the Centre
for Sustainable Chemical Technologies and
the Institute for Sustainable
Energy and the Environment (I-SEE).

“These
and other research projects covering areas such as specialist pigments, very
lightweight hydrogen-storage materials and routes to the more efficient use of
agrochemicals have great synergies with those of many members of staff in the
Department.

“I’m
also looking forward to the opportunity to contribute and develop the
educational resources in chemistry at Bath; this will include the completion of
the forthcoming internally-selling text book ‘Inorganic Chemistry;
sixth edition’ from OUP, on which I am the coordinating author.”

Head
of Department, Professor Paul Raithby, said: “We are delighted to welcome
Professor Weller to the Department and we look forward to working with him.
Bath is very fortunate to have attracted such an eminent chemist to this key
post.

“Professor
Weller will add a new dimension to the theme of sustainable energy research
which is central to the Department’s science development strategy. He will
complement the internationally leading research in this area being carried out
by colleagues in the Department, and across the University, and will strengthen
existing and build new collaborations both nationally and internationally.

“Professor
Weller also has an outstanding reputation as a teacher and his input to our
undergraduate programmes will further enhance the Department’s reputation for
producing outstanding chemistry graduates.”

Professor
Weller is one of 12 leading academics joining the University as part of a
strategic investment in research and teaching excellence across all faculties
and disciplines.